InuYasha Beyond the Skin

by Marina-chan1

When Kagome couldn't seal the Shikon no tama her son was born with half the jewel in his heart.....chapter 12 and 13 are up! chapter 12 Marina's secret is revield, chapter 13 Koyasha goes to school....?

12. I'm going home'

Wow it's been a while sorry IY fans

I've had a bad case of writers block that and my computer has been more than a little trouble lately.

I havn't found my disk to reinstal my usual typeing program so please don't shun me too bad for typo's and misspelled words. As I stated openly before I can't spell..I'll correct the misstakes as soon as I can.

Buy the writers block is over for now I hope!! So here it is chapter 11

As a precaution I don't own Inu-Yasha Rumiko Takahashi does

My story contains a few spoilers here and there but so far nothing very major so if you're not too far in the series feel free to read on!

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InuYasha Beyond the Skin

Chapter 11

'I'm going home'

"An arrow for an arrow father"

Marina reached out and tugged on Koyasha's pant leg. "Please let's just go we don't have to fight them." Shippou ran up and stood in front of Koyasha and Marina. "Stop it Inuyasha! Leave Lady Marina alone!" Inuyasha dropped his guard unable to believe Shippou's actions. Shippou's green eyes glared at Inuyasha unafraid of him. ("Fool does he really think I can't handle my father?") Marina's grip loosened on his pant leg and she struggled to stay conscious. She rolled up in a ball feeling the pain from her stomach come back in full force. Kagome felt a twinge of cruel joy seeing her in pain. ("What am I thinking how can I be happy she's in pain! I'm not that kind of person, am I?") Kagome began to doubt her own motives for chasing Koyasha and Marina down. She stared at the frail girl in dismay. ("Am I really jealous of her? She's has much stronger magic than I do. But at least I have my health. I don't understand, I know that she was injured but how can she always be so sick? A better question how did she embed that arrow in Inuyasha?")

Yoshihiro survaide the group distraught. ("I don't understand what's going on who's good and who's bad. Master Koyasha has shown some compashion towards the human girl who accompanies him but this silver hared half demon also is accompanied by a human woman. Is this what half demons do? Should I find a priestes woman to be at my side as well? These strangers attacked him first so he can't be held responsible for defending himself, right?") Yoshihiro looked back down to where Marina lay cringing. ("It's strange she seemed so powerfull and unafraid a moment ago and now she is struggling just to stay awake. And who is this other demon trying to protect her.") Yoshihiro stopped and stared at shippou's red hair and green eyes while his tail twitched with anticipation. Yoshihiro couldn't help but wonder if he was a fox like him.

Shippou growled warning off Inuyasha. Kagome couldn't decide whether to stop Inuyasha and let them escape or persist on stopping them. Inuyasha redied to strike but stopped as he caught a confussed old woman out of the corner of his eye. "Yoshihiro, what's going on here?!" "Stay out of this old woman!" Inuyasha snarled as he saw her walk forward useing her cane for support. "You stay out of this demon!" She raised her cane and whapped Inuyasha over the head. "What are ye thinking ye fools the whole town must have heard ye by now!" "Look mam we're very sorry we just came for.." "Shut up girl!" The old woman grabbed Inuyasha's ear and yanked him towards the broken door grabbing Mushiro as well. "Yoshihiro get that blanket there, and ye two can help him put it up!" The old woman cursed under her breath and hobbled over to the fire. Kagome laughed sheepishly and waved Inuyasha and Mushiro to follow the old woman's instructions. Koyasha's susspicious gaze never left his father and mother. Kagome's eye's regained thier hurt expression meeting with Koyasha's steely gaze. Shippou finally took notice of Yoshihiro as he helped Inuyasha and Mushiro. Shippou couldn't believe what he saw. The same red hair but with fox ears pokeing out of his head like Inuyasha own dog ears. Shiipou stood amazed it had been years since he'd seen a fox demon but never before a fox-half.

Koyasha's eyes slanted as Kagome lifted her bow with and arrow aimed at him. Shippou's curiousity had led him to try and strike up a conversation with the young boy. Koyasha kept his eyes on his mother and slowly leaned down till his hands met with Marina's shivering shoulders. She squeeked out in pain, although he had barely touched her every little thing seemed to feel like daggers stabbing her. Kagome lowered her bow and ran over to help with her. "Koyasha where is the medicin I gave her?" He looked over to his mother puzzled. "What medicin?" "She didn't even tell you, did she?" His cold expression of hate returned. Kagome tore into Marina's bundle in search of the small pouch that held the medicin she had made. "Please mam have you got any tea handy?" The old woman sat silently watching the fire. Yoshihiro ran off to fetch the kettle. He quickly returned with a full kettle in hand. "Please mam is Miss. Marina going to be ok?" She smiled remembering when her children were just as young and cared for people like the strange young demon half. "I think she'll be ok." Yoshihiro sighed in reliefe

Koyasha stepped back into a dark corner and eyed them all suspiciously. ("They're up to something here. There is no way they would let me go this easily.") Mushiro and his father's eyes never left Koyasha, who still eyed them equaly suspicious. The old woman raised her head. "Ye's kind are not welcome here. Ye are not even safe in my home. But ye are permited to stay till tomarrow." She sighed and leaned on her walking stick. "Boy come sit here." Yoshihiro stood next to her placeing the kettle on the fire. Her old eyes met with his, letting him know to be on his guard around this new group. Shippou's worry for Marina's safety tore at his curiousity to find out about the young fox-half.

Kagome pulled the small pouch from Marina's bunddle, touching Marina's hand tenderly as it balled up to fight back the pain. Koyasha became disstracted when he noticed her cringing holding her somach. Her once white kimono top was now being soaked in blood from her ripped stitches. Kagome looked up at him and caught a glimps of softness in his eyes before they shifted and turned cold again. ("She is changeing him after all. I almost didn't want to believe it.") Kagome pride Marina's hands from her stomach and began to undo her kimono. She looked up and noticed the many curious male eyes watching her. The old woman smacked Yoshihiro over the head with her walking stick. "Ye know better ye men go in the other room or go outside this isn't for yon eyes!!" Yoshihiro scurried off to his room followed by the other men who had no desire to greet any curious hostil villagers. Despite the old woman's words Koyasha stayed in the corner watching. Kagome looked over at him scolding with her eyes. "Koyasha have you no manners!!" He slightly smirked. "None at all Mother." Kagome was furious from his coccey attitude and wripped open Marina's Kimono despite Koyasha's presence. A small stream of blood ran from her reopened wound. Kagome sighed. "I told you to be carefull." Marina's eyes squinted open to look Kagome in the face. "I'm sorry for everything Miss. Kagome. I hope Mr. Inu-Yasha isn't angry with me." Dont' worry about it. you're just trying to help my son, I know." Kagome said bitterly. Marina couldn't tell what hurt worse her physical pain or that from her heart. She closed her eyes and tried to forgett all that had happened the last few days.

("Sometimes I wish I could say this was a dream. But I feel like I've grown so much these past few days. I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't like it here and the people. They are all so unique, I'm not sure I'd want to live not ever knowing them.") She winced in pain as she felt Kagome cleaning and restitching her wound. Her head leaned to the side and her eyes opened again and focused on a pair of yellow eyes in the dark corner. Her eyes widened when she reolized who it was. Koyasha felt his cheeks burn when her eyes met his. She smiled and closed her eyes again. (" Is he still watching over me? I wonder if it's that or he's just being a pervert again. Should I tell him my secret? Would he even understand?") Her dreams driffted off to a open grassy feels where her family stood waiting for her return home.

Kagome finished the stitching much to the amazement of the old woman who had never seen this done ith such presission. "Ye have skilled hands young woman." Kagome smiled politely. "I'm not that young. I've been stitching people up for years. It's really nothing special." Kagome whiped the blood from her hands on a wet cloth and sat back. "I'm really sorry we damaged you're home." "Ye should be!" The old woman scolded reminded of her two smashed doors. "I can say I don't care for demons. I can't help but love the boy; he is all I have left of my own son who died trying to save his dam son and that reched demon wife of his." A bitter note played in Kagome's heart. No matter what good demons did, or what they did to try and redeam their wrongs, predjudiced humans like her would alway see them as monsters and killers. "Give it up already! Demon's didn't choose to be what they are, you can't blame them for who they fall in love with or who falls in love with them!" The old woman sat back sruprised by Kagome's out burst. "People like ye just never want to see the truth of what they are. All ye wan't to believe is that they are the same as humans when their not! They could over power and kill us all if we treated them with the kindness and careing that ye preach! I have no intention of inviteing demons into my home any more after today the boy is leaving tomarrow then I'll be ridd of their kind for good! If yon boy wishes to be with yon kind let him be, I don't intend to stop him! Let him be as sly and wicked as his mother, she brought on her own death!" Kagome wanted to burst out and knock the old woman back down to size but noticed her eyes were filled with tears. Koyasha watched this behavior as well. ("I see she's trying to send him off without guilt. The old bitty's going to miss him after all.")

Shippou almost knocked Yoshihiro off his feet excited with questions about his family. Yoshihiro sheepishly answered his question afraid of the scrutany of a full blooded demon. Mushiro sat next to the door listening to the womens conversation irratated that his bother was getting to see Marina exposed. Yoshihiro managed to get away from Shippou's questions finally to ask a few of his own from a very anti-social silver haird half-demon. Inuyasha looked up at Yoshihiro dissinterested in the young fox-half. "Please Sir you're Master Koyasha's father, right?" Inuyasha's eyes slanted but he nodded in reply. "Is Koyasha a very powerful demon?" Inuyasha smirked, "He better as hell be. After all he is my son and haveing half the Shiikon jewel there's no way he could be weak." Shippou rolled his eyes hearing Inuyasha's bosts. "Sir is you're son a good person?" "Why are you asking me, you don't even know if I'm a good person or not." Yoshihiro blushed and looked away from the strangers. Inuyasha was right Yoshihiro didn't know if he was good or not. Mushiro chuckled at the fox-halfs questions but found himself with a twinge of jelousy being reminded that his brother would always over power him as long he had the jewel in his heart. ("Well brother you may have your strength but before long I'll have something more dear to you.") Yoshihiro eyed Mushiro's some what dissturbing expression, he could sence something about Mushiro's thoughts that had a sinister intention, which made him very weary of him.

Koyasha stepped out away from the corner to head outside and found he was quickly surrounded by the group that had been in the other room. Yoshihiro ran to Koyasha's side growling menaceingly at Mushihiro and Inuyasha. Kagome looked over and pulled several entrapment spells from her sleevs. Marina was too out of it this time to aid Koyasha in escape. Koyasha's eyes slanted and he redied to fight. "Not this time Koyasha" Kagome said as she flung a spell at him. Koyasha froze a moment then fell asleep. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome then back to Koyasha. "That wont hold him we need something more perminent. Kagome reached for an arrow but found they were all broken into several peices. She stared at them in surprise. "So that's the real reason he stayed in here." Yoshihiro giggled lightly. ("It would appear Master Koyasha has the cunning of a fox. He forsaw that Miss. Marina wouldn't be able to help him this time after earlier. Since they didn't for see his decepition I know I've choosen the propper teacher.") "Oh great Kagome why did you let him destroy your arrows." "I didn't know he was doing it, so don't blaim me." "Why shouldn't I, if you hadn't sent us out he'd have never got away with it." "Well if he didn't have your peeping tom instincts he'd have had the decensy to leave with the rest of you." "What do you mean my 'peeping tom instincts'!!" Mushiro rubbed his head ashamed of his parents childish dissplay. Shippou sighed some what embarased himself of their actions.

Marina awoke in the faint light of dawn, blinking a few times waiting for her eyes to focus. She sat up gritting her teath reminded of her stomach. When her eyes finally adjusted to the light she looked around amazed at the scene. The entire group lay assleep on the floor, all but Koyasha who was propped against the wall with several spell incantaions plastered to his body. ("Now would be the perfect time to get away from them but I don't know if I'll be able to stop them if they wake before I'm through.") She sat in dissmay of how to handle the situation. A hand crept up around her mouth and locked her lips so she couldn't speek. She tried to struggle free but found it too tireing. "Calme down," a voice whispered in her ear. "I have no intention of harming you just come with me." She nodded in reply and snuck around the scattered sleepers and tip toed outside followed by Mushiro. He smiled and faced her when they got outside. "Sorry if I startled you." "No it's ok I just thought everyone was asleep." "Listen I need to talk to you alone." Marina slightly blushed when he looked her in the eye. "Of coarse Mushiro-san."

Marina followed Mushiro into the woods slightly conffused by his actions. "You're not hurt too badly are you Miss. Marina?" She shook her head vigorously no. "I'll live if that's what you mean?" She smiled pleasantly. Mushiro found her sweet smile infections and couldn't help but smile himself. "You're a very pleasant person I can see that." She smiled slightly blushing and looked away. "I'm sorry we didn't meet on more pleasant terms before. My brother and I tend to bring out the worst in eachother." "That's ok I just didn't want to see either of you two hurt eachother. I'm sorry I butted in like that." Mushiro's expression sobered remembering their fight. "Tell me do you have any siblings?" "Me of coars there's my big brother but he's a real jerk most of the time...not that I think big brothers are jerks I just don't get along with him as well as my little brother Spencer. You see Spencer and I have the same Mother un-like James, that's my older brother's name." She looked up at him slightly embarased. "But you probably don't want to hear all that." Mushiro blinked a few times and laughed. "You're very beautiful Miss. Marina." Marina turned bright red, Mushiro had no sence of shame at saying such words to her. Marina couldn't help but be suspicious that she wasn't the first girl he said such things to. But she couldn't help blushing he looked so much like Koyasha when he was human...when he was so kind to her. Mushiro stopped in a clearing under a tree that must have been hundreds of years old covered in moss. The sun rose painting the sky in a light peach. The tree's above glowed with the light above. Marina ignored Mushiro for a moment to take in the beauty of her surroundings. ("I feel so free in this time almost like I could just fly away into the sky. I can't help but wish I could stay here at times like these. But what does Mushiro want with me.") She blushed slightly looking over at him. "Do you like it here?" "Hmm" she looked at him wide eyed. "Yes it's beautiful." "Why don't you just stay then?" "What are you talking about Mushiro-san." "Why don't you stay in this time?" "It would be nice, don't get me wrong I like everyone I've met here...well everyone but that demon Miyu... But I have family that I just can't leave back at home with no word of good bye." Mushiro's expression turned slightly angry. ("Miyu, she isn't still around is she?") "What's the matter Mushiro-san did I say something wrong?" "No it's nothing, is it my brother that drives you to want to leave?" "No of...of coarse not. He is a good person on the inside he just needs to know it's ok to let that side show once in a while." She smiled with a hint of sadness.

Mushiro stepped closer to Marina unfaised by her nervous expression as he addvanced. Koyasha and Yoshihiro watched from the trees. ("What the hell does Mushiro think he's doing with her.") Yoshihiro tried to keep from laughing at Koyasha's enraged, jelious expression. Mushiro smiled kindly with the same tender look in his eyes. "I'm in love with you Marina." Her eyes widened to the size of grape fruits and she stepped back away from his advance until she was pinned up against the old giant. Her face uncontrolably flushed bright red, and her whole body trembled. Koyasha nearly fell out of the tree in shock. ("MUSHIRO DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!") His fist trembled and he gritted his teeth in anger. "I see you're trying to get her to betray her promise so she won't help me find the other half of the jewel. I'm glad I killed you before!" He screamed to himself in a whisper tone to keep his presence unknown. Sweat rolled down Yoshihiro's forhead. ("I think he missed the real betrail issue here.") Mushiro leaned in closer towards Marina who had no where else to go. ("What's he doing he's not going to...") Her mind froze as his lips touched hers. Her eye's nearly popped out of her head. Why all the sudden did everyone want to kiss her!! She regained her composure raised her hand and with a loud 'crack' slaped Mushiro's lips away from her's. He looked back at her shocked with an obvious red hand print on his face. "How ....How dare you! You had no right! I wanted to believe you were a good person but you're worse than you're brother, ...much worse. At least he doesn't declair love to a girl just to get a kiss. You never ment it at all!" Tears rolled from her eyes little know to her tears were also rolling down Koyasha's face as he fell out of the tree laughing hystericaly. "I'm glad I was here to see this. Of all the things in life I've longed to see that was at the top of my list. Of all women who knew it would be her to put him in his place."

Yoshihiro looked down at Koyasha strangely, "Master Koyasha what's so funny about that, he kissed her." Marina turned away and walked back towards the village. She was so upset she didn't hear the hysterical Koyasha just ahead of her. Yoshihiro yelled out a warning to her but she was too upset to even comprehend that she was being addressed. She passed through the shrubery and fell flat on top of Koyasha. Her head snapped back to realiy and began repetedly appoligizeing to Koyasha. Koyasha was in too good of spirits to get even adjitated with her clumbsiness. Mushiro still stood stupified and shocked by her words and reaction. It was almost as though he didn't even reolize he was doing it. He stood there playing over all the times she had been near her and suddenly reolized that he really did care for her but was it love. To him it seemed like he'd known her for years although it was barely a few days.

Koyasha helped her stand back up with a some what pleasant expression on his face for a change. Marina couldn't look him in the face after what happened despite his good mood. It suddenly hit her; how had he gotten loose from the spell incantaions? Yoshihiro jumped out of the tree holding her bundle and landed off the the side of the two. "So Master are we going to leave now? I've already said my fairwells." "Just who said you were comeing with us!?" "But Master I did free you when she could not." Koyasha raised his eyebrow scepticaly. "Ok so my grandmother freed you but I woke her up to do it." "You're not comeing!" "Yes I am!" Kirara jumped out of the under brush and nearly scared Yoshihiro out of his skin. Koyasha's eyes slanted and looked down at her. "Oh look the spy returns." Kirara gave him a dissgusted look and chipperly bounded off to stand by Marina. "And you're definately not comeing rat." Kirara let out a low growl at Koyasha. Yoshihiro looked down at Kirara and his eyes widened. "Hey you're the one that stole those kimono's." Kirara stepped behined Marina's leg and poked her head out to see Yoshihiro who scolded her with his eyes. "Please don't be angry with her she was only trying to help us right Koyasha?" Marina wasn't really sure if it had been to help them or not, but she felt obligated to stick up for Kirara or at least explain her short commings as innocent. Koyasha looked down on Kirara still with the same dissgusted expression. "Acctualy I think it was mainly for you not me." She smiled at Kirara who purred happily. "Besides the little details, it's time to go." "Yes Master Koyasha." "I told you you're not comeing!" Marina kept her mouth shut in order to keep from makeing it worse, besides the fact she still felt bad about what Mushiro did.

Koyasha and Yoshihiro stood arguing, Marina began to get irratated by their pointless arguing. "STOP! Listen you can come if you can keep up. Is that ok with you Koyasha?" The two turned around so that their backs faced eachother and uttered in unasin, "Fine!" She sighed a breath of relief. "Besides they should all be up by now and I don't want you to get caught again Koyasha." She said sheepishly afraid of his repremand. Koyasha grabbed her and flung her on his back and took off away from the village. She was too surprised to even have time to warn Yoshihiro about how fast Koyasha could travel. Yoshihiro stood in awe a moment then reolized he had to run to keep up with him. Koyasha and Marina were quickly into the trees, Koyasha bounding off the large branches shakeing leaves down along the forest floor where Yoshihiro had some trouble stumbling and tripping over limbs and dips and sliding on the freshly fallen leaves, trying to keep his eyes on Koyasha and make sure he didn't lose them. Kirara ran ahead of him spinning around every so often to make sure he was keeping up. Yoshihiro began getting winded and slowing down. Marina looked back some what worried for his safety. "Koyasha won't he attract demon's down there?" "What do I care he's not comeing with us." She looked back down and gasped. Koyasha nearly lost his balance and fell, he flapped his arms like a bird to catch his balance. Koyasha looked back to what she was stareing at. Yoshihiro and Kirara stood surrounded by three wood demons that seem to melt out of the trees to stand in their way. "Koyasha you have to help them!" "Like hell I do! If you're so dam worried about them you help!" Her face crinkled into a mad pout. "Fine I will if you won't!" He set her down on the branch and she quickly began climbing down the tree. "You're no match for them." "I may not be but at least I'm trying." His eyes slanted but he looked down worried everytime she'd slip on the damp branches. She jumped the last ten feet rolling as she landed to keep it from impacting her legs too bad but it mader her stomach hurt instead.

One of the wood demon turned around hearing her land after the jump. Yoshihiro couldn't bother helping with the one since he was already over his head with the other two. Kirarar felt cornered and saw that Marina might need help so she found herself turning into her fire demon form. Yoshishiro nearly jumped out of his skin seeing her change. Marina pulled her sword and took stance to fight. Koyasha sat down on the high limb and stretched out to relax while watching the fight out of the corner of his eye. The wood demon charged at Marina who bent low to the ground and charged at him. Her feet patted accross the ground like a small patter of a rabit. The Wood demon looked almost surprised that the small human was attacking. He formed his arm into a spear and struck for her. She dodged and swung her sword cutting off his arm that turned to another demon as it hit the ground. The creature screamed out and struck at her with his other arm. She dodged his other arm and leaped up slashing the creature in half. It screamed out and split into two more. Koyasha chuckled from above, "You'll never kill a wood demon like that." Marina backed up a little shocked by the new revolution, what could she do to stop them Koyasha was being no help but obviously knew how to do it. Yoshihiro in the back ground had finally pinned one with his statue spell trick the other on the hand was haveing more than a little trouble from Kirara, but seemed almost afraid of her. Marina glanced to the side and noticed how far the wood demon would stear clear of Kirara's flames. "Oh I get it." she dodged as a demon swung at her, striking the tree behind her instead, leaving a deep gash into the meat of the tree. She ran around to the far side of the tree puting the tree between her and the demons. ("But how do I get a hold of some fire I can barely keep away from their strikes.") Yoshihiro looked up in the tree and noticed Koyasha just sitting there. ("Is he trying to test me? But if he was why would Miss. Marina be fighting too?") Kirara pounced on the one and caught it on fire from the flames on her feet, and jumped off. Yoshihiro watched as the demon flailed around trying to get Kirara as it burned. Yoshihiro looked for a dry branch to catch some more fire on to get his demon but everything was still wet from the rain the day before. Marina found the same problem. Kirara would have helped with the other demons but she was haveing enough trouble with the one dieing in the fire. Marina ran hearing the demons following her, but something happened she didn't expecet, she felt a tickle forming.

She quickly began coughing and fell to the ground incapable of doing anything. Koyasha's head shot up and looked down as the demon's surrounded her. "Hell you can't do anything without help can you, woman?" He leaped out of the tree and landed a few yards away. "Now alow me to demonstrate how to kill one of these things right." He ran forward and reared back his arm jumpin up over one of them."Flameing Claws!!" the tips of his fingers caught on fire as they sliced the demon into several peaces. The wood demon erupted into an inferno screaming and falling to the ground lifeless. The other two took their attentions from Marina and began chargeing at Koyasha. Koyasha looked at them and laughed hysericaly. Kirara finally finished off hers and helped out Yoshihiro who watched his in dissmay as it began to escape his spell. Marina fell over on the ground still coughing a trickle of blood comeing from the corner of her mouth. One of the demons chargeing at Koyasha stopped sniffing the air and turned to the girl, it appeared to it that she was dieing. "This would be and easier catch then that half demon. Her blood smells so sweet." The demon leaned over her drooling, the drops landed on the ground around her and seemed to eat through the twigs and dead leavs covering the ground. Marina gasped for breath struggling for air. Koyasha flung another attack out doing the same to the atacking demon as that of before. He looked over as the demon leaned in to devower the small young woman. Kirara and Yoshihiro looked over and saw the same seen as Koyasha and screamed out running towards the demon. Marina opened her eyes an saw the demon just feet from her head. Her eyes widened and squinted shut screaming as she threw out her hand smaking the demon. A bright light erupted from around her body a single large beam focused out of her hand and the demon shrieked out as the beams burned through it's body decintagrateing the creature to nothing. Yoshihiro skidded to a stop next to Kirara who stood stareing. Koyasha's mouth hung open his eyes blinked several times as the light dissapated to nothing, not wanting to believe what he had just witnessed.

Marina sat up and held her chest as a tear rolled down her cheek. Each breath burned like fire in her lungs. Her whole body felt numb sitting on the ground with a light breez blowing in the trees. She leaned agains a nearby tree and used it to brace herself as she stood up. She took a couple heavy breaths then pushed off the tree to stand on her own. Koyasha's mouth slowly closed Yoshihiro stood afraid to walk forward and see if she was ok. Kirara hesitated then walked forward to help brace Marina as she slightly side stepped loseing strength. Marina placed her hand on Kirara's shoulders and gripped her soft fur. Koyasha started to walk towards her with a twinge of anger and jelousy. "What are you!" She looked up at him somewhat hurt by his attack. "No human or priestes could deal out that kind of blow! Hell even my mother has to use arrows for her's to even be that strong, that was pure energy. Now what are you!" Marina's gaze looked away from his to the ground, dissmissing his question. ("I can't tell him not yet") Koyasha came up to her and grabed her by the arm, her head still hung low looking away from him. "What are you!" Kirara snapped at his legs growling; Koyasha shot her a menaceing look makeing her back down still growling. Yoshihior stepped forward, "Master Koyasha we should be going they'll catch up with us in no time if we stay here." Koyasha's eyes slanted looking at Marina who still wouldn't meet his gaze. "We're leaveing" he said in a stern voice and started walking away. Kirara looked up at Marina curiously as her grip on Kirara's fir tightened. Kirara nudged her to get on, Marina looked over to Kirara sadly as if she knew what was going on in her head. Yoshihiro walked up to Marina hesitateing to say anything to her. She looked up at Yoshihiro and lightly smiled the blood was still on her lips and was starting to dry. He held out a small peice of cloth a little worried. "Miss. Marina you have some..." She touched her lips some what surprised she'd forgotten about the blood. "Thank you Yoshihiro." She noticed the fear in his eyes and smiled brightly. "You don't have to be scared of me Yoshihiro I'd never hurt my friends." She whiped the blood from her mouth. Yoshihiro looked at her hopefully. "He won't wait up for either of us so Kirara can you take us?" Kirara nudged Marina in a reply of yes. "Thank you Kirara." The two jumped on Kirara's back and took off after Koyasha.

Koyasha looked over dissgusted as he noticed Kirara carring Marina and Yoshihiro. "Oh great did you have to bring them both." "How else could I have cought up Koyasha. It's not like you were going to take me." Koyasha's eyes slanted showing his irratance from her comment. Koyasha's ear twitched as he heard a group not far off. "Oh great they've already caught our sent." Marina looked back and noticed a small red dot in the distance bounding off the trees as Koyasha was. Koyasha jumped over closer to Kirara, "Get on my back woman!" "But why Koyasha?" "Because at full speed Kirara has trouble keeping up with me!" Koyasha grabbed Marina and cradled her in his arms. Her eyes popped out surprised by his actions, and Koyasha sped up till he was a blue blur ahead of Kirara and Yoshihiro. Yoshihiro's mouth dropped open watching Koyasha quickly get quite a ways ahead of them. Koyasha looked for a clearing and shot down under the cover of the trees. Marina was amazed by how easily he could take the landing and not even be effected by it. "At least down here they can't see us. Koyasha darted off into a different direction. His ear twitched again and his eyes narrowed. "Dam it they're catching up!" Yoshihiro's eyes bugged out as Inuyasha and Kagome caught up with him. Kagome looked over at Kirara and smiled. "Don't worry we'll catch them just go back and get Shippou and Mushiro we left them back there a ways." Kirara nearly stopped dead in her tracks throwing Yoshihiro onto her head, and turned around and headed back while Inuyasha and Kagome took to under the tree cover to find Koyasha and Marina. Inuyasha sniffed the air running along. "The woods reak from the smell of her blood. If Koyasha thinks he's getting away he's an idiot." ("You may be faster than me with the jewel but I'm twice the demon you'll ever be Kagome's finger shot in front of his face."Look I think I saw something." Inuyasha looked over and saw a quick flash of blue.



Marina looked back over Koyasha's shoulder and saw the glimps of red. "Koyasha you're father's behind us." His ear shot backward and his eyebrows turned in makeing his eyes slant. "Then we take to the trees again." Koyasha jumped up on several branches till he shot out of the canapy a few yards from Kirara who now held Shippou Mushiro and Yoshihiro who was busy being scolded for his actions by Shippou. Koyasha cursed to his self that he had turned so much and not paid any attention to which direction he was headed. Not that he'd ever verbaly admit it to Marina who seemed just as surprised as him that they were there. Koyasha shot off away from them. Inuyasha shot up out of the tree tops and seemed surprised by what he saw. Koyasha glanced backward as the tree line ended to rockey fog covered cliffs. He looked back forward and stopped just inches from the edge of the cliff. He turned around to see if he had another escape but his father and the others were already on them. Koyasha set down Marina who stepped away from him a few feet. "There is no where to run Koyasha just come with us and we won't hurt you." Kagome yelled out to him knowing full well that Koyasha would never listen to her. Koyasha turned his head to look down and try and see how far it was to the bottom but the fog prevented him even seeing how far it was to the other side of the crevas. Mushiro threw his whole body at Koyasha who seemed surprised to be attacked so soon.

Mushiro swung his legs around and kicked Koyasha who went sailing out off the cliff. Marina screamed out in horror as he helplessly dissapeared into the fog. She shot daggers at Mushiro and jumped off after Koyasha. Kagome screamed out in despair as Marina too dissapeared into the clouds. Kirara bounded off to the edge of the cliff but to her surprise was caught and held by Mushiro who looked at her menacingly. Inuyasha and Kagome couldn't believe their own eyes watching Mushiro's actions. Did he hate his brother so much he was willing to let an innocent girl die to make sure he wasn't rescued? Marina's eyes blurred as her body sped up makeing her form into that of an arrow pearcing down. She caught sight of Koyasha and grabbed his extended hand. His eyes were wide seeing her with him. "I promised I'd help you Koyasha. No matter what." the tears still streamed from her eyes as Koyasha's widened even more when white feathery wings appeared from her back and extended out flapping hard. Koyasha felt gravity begin to return puting pressure on his arm to hold onto her hand. She grabbed his arm with her other hand and struggled to hold him up. A few seconds later she opened her mouth again. "Can you make it the rest of the way I don't think I can hold you much longer." Her face crunched up fighting back the fatuge in her arms. Koyasha nodded and let go falling a good twenty foot drop but landed with no problem. He stared up as her giant wings flapped hard few times holding her a few feet off the ground. He watched amazed as she set down on the ground just as gracefull as a butterfly on the pettle of a rose. Her wings folded up in the center against her back standing a foot taller than her.

Koyasha's strange expression remained as she walked towards him. "Are you ok I didn't let go too far from the ground did I?" "So that's what you are." Her wings shrunk down with her body ashamed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you Koyasha. I didn't know how you would take it." His eyes turned away from seeing her bitterly. "I'm the only one in excistance and the only one that will ever excist. I'm only half blooded." "It's no wonder you always seem so perfect like you never do anything wrong." Marina couldn't believe what he was saying. "Like hell if I'm going to have some half angel running around with me." He started to walk away from her into the mist and paused as she began to speak. "So do you still want to know why I always stare at th sunset Koyasha?" His head turned to the side in interest although clearly angry. "Angels can't help but stare at it; it's the one time of the day when the heavens open to be seen by those that have the sight. I'll never be able to go to heaven thought, my blood is tainted with human blood. I'm not even a fallen angel like demons all I can do is look up at heaven durring the sunset I'll never belong there." Her face turned sad and bitter. Koyasha knew that look all too well he saw the same pain in her eyes that was always in his own. Neither of them would ever truly belong in this world of humans. Marina turned away from him, "You know it's kind of funny my brother and I have the same mother but she cut off her wing for him so he'd be human. But could she have done that for me. Of coarse not. Tell me mother were you even thinking when you had me with father!!" She screamed up into the lifting fog. Koyasha turned to look at her knowing all the pain she had for once he saw her as she was; and understood why he felt like there was a connecion between the two.

The sun broke through the fog and glinted down on her wing makeing them shine like white gold. Several feathers fell to the ground like snow flakes agains the baren ground. Her hair shined with red gold highlights in the warm morning sun "You probably saw my shadow durring the sunset didn't you." Koyasha nodded takeing in her beauty, it seemed to him that the sun was shineing just for her. Marina turned he tear soaked face to Koyasha her blue eyes inhanced by the pink tint in the whites of her eyes from crying, and shone like two jewels. Koyasha was dumb struck looking at her. "You're right you know I'm only hindering you're quest. I've got to figure out who I am too. I thought I knew who I was but being in this time has made me doubt myself. So I guess this is good by for now." ("Goodbye?") he snapped back to reallity hearing her words. "You're really leaveing?" Marina nodded smileing. "I think I'll go back to my time for a while and get my head strait. Besides I'm sure everyone must think I'm dead. My friends must be worried sick not to mention my family back home." She started to walk away from Koyasha and stopped as she felt a great pain in her heart. ("This isn't my pain.") She turned and looked at Koyasha who was trying to hide his feelings as usual. "You still have to come back and help me like you promised you know." Marina looked over at him surprised. "You mean you still want my help?" Koyasha rolled his eyes. "Did you forget about the jewel, duh stupid!" Marina lightly smiled and ran off. Koyasha watched as her wings dissapeared again to leave what looked like a some what normal human running. Koyasha walked over and picked up one of her soft feathers that had fallen and twirled it between his fingers. "Half-angel, huh?" Koyasha looked back to where she had ran. "I wonder if she can really make it back there ok?" He started to get worried and ran after her.

Kagome and Inuyasha gave Mushiro a royal repremanding as they jumped on Kirara's back and rode down the cliff to find nothing. Iuyasha looked up at the edge of the cliff in dissbelief. "There's no way in hell they could have survived that!" Shippou jumped off and looked down on the ground noticing several scattered white feathers. "Well he does have half the jewel Inuyasha." he commented as he picked up one of the feathers. "That's wierd." "What's wierd Mr. Shippou?" Shippou walked over to Inuyasha holding out the feather. "Call me crazy but this feather smells like Lady Marina." Inuyasha sniffed lightly then ran around to the others and did the same. "They all do?" He said with a puzzled look on his face. Yoshihiro looked worried. "You don't think something got them do you?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes, but Kagome spoke up before he could make any ruid comments. "That's not possible that they would smell only like her and not another creature if that were true." She smiled in relief that her son was ok, but looked up in surprise as she noticed Yoshihiro was gone.

Yoshihiro took off into the woods to try and find Koyasha and Marina. He ran along at full speed and soon reached the cover of the trees. "I know they'll probably find them before me, but I have to try." Yoshihiro was startled when Kirara popped out of a bush in her small form and ran next to him. "What are you comeing with me?" Kirara purred happily. But I thought you were with them, or are you worried about Marina...I noticed you don't seem to like Master Koyasha." Kirara bounded ahead of him purring happily. "Hey wait up, do you know where they are?" Kirara purred again excitedly. "Well at least one of us does." Kirara stopped dead in her tracks. Yoshihiro nearly stomped on her trying to stop and not fall doing so. Koyasha emerged from beside him and grabbed around his mouth and pulled him into the bushes. Marina turned around to see only Kirara standing behind her. Kirara bounded up and jumped up into her arms. Marina caught her and happily giggled. "I'm glad you're here Kirara. Can you show me how to get back to the well?" Kirara purred happily and looked back towards the bushes. Marina looked over curiously and slightly scared. "Is something there Kirara?" Kirara looked up at her. "Maybe we had better take to the air." Kirara went to jump down but found they were already well off the ground.

Marina curled her head down to sheild Kirara as they burst through the tree tops. Kirara poked her head out curiously and seemed surprised to see Marina's white wings. "I suppose there is no point in keeping it a secret any longer." Yoshihiro looked up his jaw nearly hung down to the ground. "Dam she would fly." Koyasha grabbed Yoshihiro and yanked him along makeing him stumble on every branch and tree root. "Oh would you just grab on!" Yoshihiro grabbed onto Koyashas arm and struggled to hold on. Koyasha sped up and kept looking up to see a flash of white every now and again to direct him on which direction to go. "Master Koyasha why aren't we on top of the trees with her?" "That's my business." "Yes Master." Yoshihiro said with some dissmay.

Inuyasha tried to follow Marina's sent but soon found it gone. "I don't get it how could her sent just dissapear?" Kagome put her hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, "Well can you find Koyasha's sent?" Inuyasha smiled bareing his fangs. "You didn't think I'd lose that do you?" Kagome smiled sweetly. Shippou ran way ahead of them already not waiting for Inuyasha to lead the way. Inuyasha and the others quickly caught up to Shippou. "You don't honestly think you know where their going do you?" "I don't know where their going but I know how to follow a trail of white feathers." Inuysha looked down and noticed a couple white down feathers. Kagome laughed as Inuyasha made a bitter face. "I thought you'd learned by now that a good sence of smell wasn't everything Inuyasha!" Shippou joked as they ran along. Shippou jumped up into the tree limb and above the tree tops. "Just where do you think you're going Shippou?" Inuyasha skidded to a stop as Shippou screamed from up above "It can't be!!" Inuyasha dropped Kagome, and him and Mushiro jumped up to the canapy. The three stood in awe at what they saw. Marina flew high above the trees white wing flapping gracefully in the wind followed by little song birds danceing in the wind around her. Inuyasha looked on in dissbelief the same as Shippou and Mushiro. Shippou's eyes softened. "I didn't want to believe they really exsisted." Inuyasha and Mushiro looked at Shippou curiously, "What is she Shippou?" "What else a guardian of human." "And that would be?" "She's an angel, you dope." Inuyasha cracked Shippou on the head. "Don't get cockey, Mr. know it all." Kagome looked up and stared getting impatient. "Hello! Did you forget I'm still down here!" Inuyasha jumped down. "What Kagome we're talking." "Well what's up there!?" "Why don't you just come up and see?" Kagome stomped her foot impatiently scolding Inuyasha with her eyes. Inuyasha laughed at her expression, "I was just kidding." He jumped down and got Kagome and they took off above the tree tops following the white winged half-angel.

Kirara nudged Marina's arms away and dropped down turning into her larger demon form in midd air. Marina smiled watching Kirara run next to her. Kirara scared off the birds that followed Marina. She smiled and waved good bye to the little birds. "So what do you say we go a little higher Kirara?" Kirara started up into the air. Marina breathed in the cool air as she rose higher into the still riseing clouds from the foggy morning. Her heart lep seeing the beutiful land scape below. "You don't know how long it's been since I've gotten to really stretch my wings without worrying who would see me." Kirara looked over at her curiously. "For once in my life I really don't care if they see me!" Marina dove down breaking through a cloud and scatering it into smaller sections. She continued in her dive and skimmed above the tree line.

Koyasha looked up and stopped abruptly makeing Yoshihiro lose his grip and get thrown into a tree. "Where did she go?" Koyasha grabbed Yoshihiro by the belt and jumped above the tree tops. Inuyasha nearly jumped out of his skin as Koyasha jumped up from under him knocking him off balance. Koyasha looked ahead not bothering to even takeing notice of his father and the others. Koyasha looked around a moment then took off across the tree tops. "It's no wonder we lost her she went higher and got ahead of us." Inuyasha was furious that he'd been completely ignored as a threat to Koyasha. Shippou took off after them, Yoshihiro felt helpless being drug behined Koyasha unable to get his feet under him. "I'm sorry to intereupt you Master but you're father and the other's are behind us." Koyasha looked around surprised. "When did they catch up?" Koyasha threw Yoshihiro a few feet ahead of him "Grab on!" Yoshihiro didn't have time to think about it and grabed onto Koyasha's hair as he ran past. "Ow not my hair stupid!" "Sorry Master!" Yoshihiro grabbed a hold of Koyasha's shoulder and clung for dear life. Inuyasha's eyes slanted, "Mushiro take Kagome!" Inuyasha tossed Kagome off his back to Mushiro and leaped up ahead of them. Yoshihiro looked back and saw Inuyasha gaining on them. "Master you're fathers catching up to us." Koyasha glanced back and gave a cockey grin. "Not for long Yoshihiro." Koyasha sped up twice his normal speed. Inuyasha couldn't believe himself how fast Koyasha was out of his range. "What the hell, he was never that fast before!" Shippou tried to keep up despairing as they grew further and further out of sight.

Inuyasha stopped dead in place out of breath for what seemed the first time in his life he had ever been winded from running. Koyasha laughed mockingly at his father. "Now that was worth seeing. I'm haveing a good day!" Koyasha smiled to himself. Yoshihiro looked at him strangely still holding on for dear life. ("I wonder if I made the right choice of mentors?") Marina slowed her pace looking around at the trees in bloom. "This place is so beautiful, its almost a shame in a few hundred years it's going to be covered in buildings." Kirara looked at her strangely. "But I guess you can find beauty in everything to some exstent." Marina looked around searching for anything that could look familiar. "I know it took a few days on foot to get this far but we should make the well by nightfall, that's provideing that we can even find the well." She looked over at Kirara who ran a head. "Don't tell me you know the way?" Kirara closed almost like she was smiling. Marina smiled, "So you do know after all." Koyasha had to slow down to keep from being noticed by Kirara who seemed to be on alert. Yoshihiro looked up at them surprised, "You're amazing Master Koyasha!" Koyasha turned his head to the side and gave Yoshihiro a big cheezy grin. "It's been a while since I really put this jewel in my heart to use. I fogot how easily it increses my strength and speed." Yoshihiro's eyes widened, "You mean you weren't useing you're full strength before?" "Of coarse not that would have ended the battle too quickly." Sweat rolled down Yoshihiro's forhead. "Yes of coars, Master."

They followed after till well into noon. Marina held her stomach and heard it grummbling for a change. "I can't believe it Kirara for once I'm actualy hungry." Kirara looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry Kirara you must be hungry too. I guess we'd better land and find something to eat. Does that sound good!" Kirara jumped up happily and landed in a near by field. Marina set down like a feather in the grass her white wings dissapeared and she stood next to the demon who also turned back into her normal form. "I wish I'd have gotten some provisions in the last village. I've never hunted before in my life." Kirara looked up at her sadly. Koyasha and Yoshihiro had taken to the ground a long time ago and had to stop and lay flat in the grass to keep out of sight. "Master Koyasha what is she doing?" his ear twitched and he had a strange expression on his face. Yoshihiro waited eagerly to hear what he had to say. "She's hungry?" Yoshihiro smaked his face on the ground. "I'm a little hungry myself Master." Koyasha felt his own stomach grummbling. "I guess I forgot to eat too. Well that means it's time to go hunting!" Koyasha took off leaveing Mushiro looking some what in despair of wether to follow or stay and watch them. Koyasha stopped a moment and yelled back. "You lose them and I'll eat you instead!" Yoshihiro's ears laid down fearing that Koyasha would actualy follow through with his threat. Marina looked around unsure of what to do next. "Maybe I can find some wild vegetables instead. But then again how would I cook them Shippou had everything with him?" Kirara rubbed agains her leg. "I kind of wish Koyasha was here, he could catch something in no time." Kirara jerked her head to the side in open dissgust of hearing Koyasha's name mentioned. Marina knelt down next to her. "Now don't be like that Koyasha has his good side. You don't have to hate him all the time. You know he actualy kissed me ...or I guess we kissed each other. But it felt like he really cared for me." Yoshihiro listened intently to Marina's conversation to Kirara. "I don't understand does she not know his feelings yet?" "I know we only met just a few days ago but... never mind that's just silly wouldn't that be a pair a demon-half and angel half." Yoshihiro slummped down. "Jeez and girls say boys have troubles with their feelings. She can't even tell if she likes him or not."

Koyasha emerged holding several ded animals. "Here take these to them." Koyasha tossed them to Yoshihiro who looked up at him in surprise. "But I thought we didn't want them to know we were here?" "Well I can't just let her starve either, she hasn't eaten anything in a few days." ("I think Master Koyasha really likes her but doesn't want to admit it...Maybe I can do something to help the two of them along.") Yoshihiro looked up at him afraid, "Maybe you should take it to her instead of me Master." Koyasha's eyes slanted, "Just what are you insinuateing?" Yoshihiro waved his hand out in front of him. "Nothing Master Koyasha it was just an observation." Koyasha looked at him quirly. "Observation of what?" Yoshihiro quickly tried to think up a plosible excuse to use. "Well Miss. Marina might think I have feeling for her if I take them and I don't like her like that...and well she knows you don't like her in that way so she wouldn't get any ideas if you did it." Yoshihiro cringed back waiting for Koyasha to bite his head off, but Koyasha stood there a moment thinking about it. "Good point I'll take them." Yoshihiro sat up shocked that his skeem had actualy worked.

Koyasha approched Kirara jumped into action growling fiercely at him. "Give it up rat I'm more afraid of Fujiko than I'd ever be of you." Marina looked up surprised. "Koyasha what are you doing here!?" "Nothing I just forgot to force feed you yesterday." He held up the game for her to take, while Yoshihiro followed slowly behind Koyasha. Marina smiled and took it from his hands. She looked at it surprised, "You didn't have to clean it I'd have done it." Koyash a knelt down and made a small fire ignoring her. "I'm really glad you're here I wasn't sure what to do about lunch." Koyasha rolled his eyes, "You're pathetic, woman." "I guess you're right" she said with a light chuckle in her voice. Marina cleaned a stick off and set the flesh over the fire, and sat silently watching it cook. Kirara sat next to her happily swishing her tails, Koyasha sat just as silent, while Yoshihiro seemed in some despair. ("This isn't working at all they're just sitting there!") Yoshihiro looked over at kirara and something clicked in his head, they would have to at least atempt to carry on a conversation if he and Kirara were gone. ("It's now or never") He leaped out and pounced on Kirara. Kirara slipped away playfully jumping around. Yoshihiro ran off Kirara chased after him and Marina and Koyasha soon found themselves alone. Koyasha lay on the ground Looking up at the clouds go by. Marina looked up as well and smiled. "That one there looks like a dragon." Koyasha turned his head in surprise as she pointed up at a cloud that swirled around like a snake with puffs for limbs and a snarled looking head. Koyasha turned his head back to the sky and looked up at the cloud she pointed out. "I guess it kind of does if you look at it just right." She walked over an laid on the gound next to him. "And that one there looks like and ice cream cone with a cherry on top." Koyasha looked at it for a moment. "I think it looks like my father fighting another demon." Marina tilted her head and looked at it again. "Oh I see it now!" Koyasha looked over at another "That looks like a medacine cart." Marina looked at it, "Oh and look there the horse is running away from it." Koyasha looked at it. "You forgot the farmer running after it." Marina started laughing. "Don't forget the children over there laughing at him. Koyasha looked and started laughing himself, "That one there looks like Fujiko holding her doll." Koyasha sobered up and lay silently for a moment. He reached into the folds of his kimono and pulled out the small doll and looked at it a moment before hideing it again. Marina rolled over and looked down at him. "I'm sorry did I say something wrong. "No but you're obstructing my view of the burning village." Marina rolled back over and looked up at the cloud he mentioned. "Don't be silly Koyasha it's a beautiful lake surrounded by a garden all in bloom with flowers."

Koyasha sat up abruptly, "You have a narrow view of life." Marina sat up and looked at him surprised by his attack. "Just because I don't believe the whole world isn't about death and unhappiness doesn't mean I have a narrow view of life!" She stood up and walked away from him."What's that supposed to mean, woman?!" "You know what you're problem is Koyasha all you can see is the missfortune of yourself that's why you're stuck running away from you're problems. Maybe if you'd let yourself reolize there is so much more to life than darkness and disspair then you could be happy. Have you even looked around you! Everything around you is bursting with life; the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the sky couldn't be more beautifuly scattered with white fluffy clouds on a blue canvas!" Marina's eyes narrowed and her face turned angry. "Even cloud watching you have to look for unhappiness!" Marina sat down by the fire and turned the meat in a huff. Koyasha stared at her startled and slightly puzzled as how to respond. "Your view is so sugar coated that you don't want to face reality, woman!" Marina looked over at him hurt and upset. "I'd rather be like this then trying to make everyone misserable all the time to make myself feel better like 'some' people I know." Koyasha's eyes narrowed and he sat down next to the fire himself. "I'm glad you're leaving I won't have to put up with your pleasantness for a while, its sickaning to have to look at a beautiful woman all the time." Koyasha's face glowed bright red when he reolized what had escaped his lips. Marina stared down at him and found the temperature in her own face rise second later as his words played through on instant repeat in her mind. She didn't dare ask him if that was what he said for fear of busting a blood vesel if not have her heart beat clean out of her chest.

Yoshihiro returned winded and walking next to Kirara. The two stared at Marina and Koyasha who wouldn't face each other at all and were busy eating to keep their mouths from letting any more embarasing words escape. ("Darn it I thougth for sure if we left they'd warm up to each other at least a little.") Yoshihiro handed Kirara a leg and sat down himself and started eating. "Did you two have a good converstion while we were gone?" Koyasha glanced fearfully over at Marina and back down to his food. Would she answere him or would Koyasha have to open his mouth. Yoshihiro looked at the two waiting for their answere. Marina finally looked over, "Not really we just watched the clouds go by." Yoshihiro slumped down dissapointed. Koyasha looked over at her and turend away looking back up at the sky. Marina rubbed her stomach after she finished. ("I don't think I've eaten that much in ten years.") She looked over at Kirara who was busy licking her paws and smiled. "Well Kirara what do you say we get going?" Kirara purred and jumped up happily. Yoshihiro looked surprised back and forth between Koyasha and Marina who neither said a word to each other. Marina turned to Yoshihiro after standing up. "It's been a pleasure haveing you're company Yoshihiro I hope you find what you're looking for." She looked over glanceing at Koyasha who sat with his back to her. "Good bye Koyasha. I hope I'll have my head strait to return in a few weeks to help you." Marina's wings reappeared and extended out and began to lightly flap blowing Koyasha's hair to the side and makeing the grass all around dance. Koyasha turned his head to the side with an evil grin. "You don't think I'm going to just let you go that easily do you?" Marina looked over at him surprise as did Yoshihiro Kirara on the other hand was ready for a fight. "Koyasha I told you I need to get away for a while and figure things out in my head!" She flapped her wings harder and began to rise. Koyasha's eyes slanted and he ran to try and grab her but with a hard beat from her wings and she was well out of a normal person's reach. She flapped a few more times to avoid him as he jumped up and tried reach her. Marina looked down at him and smiled, "You'll never catch me like that Koyasha." Her wings began beeting hard and she flew off. Kirara turned into her larger form and got ready to take off too. Yoshihiro seemed to remember something important. "Kirara wait I've still got her things. I need to give them back." Yoshihiro jumped on Kirara's back and gripped into her fur. Kirara looked back as Koyasha got ready to jump on as well, she ran forward and made him miss takeing off into the air after Marina. Koyasha slammed his fist on the ground and took off running. "Fine I have no one to slow me down. Sure you can fly in the air but I know I can beat you to the well with no problem.") His feet became a blur and he took off like the wind accross the ground.

Marina didn't bother to look back behind her and began to rise higher into the air. "That stupid Koyasha how dare he try and keep me here I already explained." Yoshihiro looked at Marina puzzled. "Explained about what Miss. Marina?" Marina fell a few feet in shock hearing Yoshihiro's voice. "Yoshihiro what are you doing here!?" "I'm sorry for following you Miss. Marina, but you forgot you're things again." Marina looked over and saw the red bundle on Yoshihiro's back. "Oh thank you; things have been so crazey today I completely forgot about it. Yoshihiro plastered himself against Kirara's fur even harder as he looked down. Marina looked over at him confussed, "What's the matter?" Yoshihiro looked as white as a ghost. "I'm ..scared of hights." Marina laughed, "Don't worry Yoshihiro Kirara would never let you fall." "Yes Miss. Marina." But he still remained suctioned up to Kirara's back. Marina's wings began beeting faster and her speed increased. "Where are we going may I ask?" Marina glanced over. "I'm going back to my own time for a while." "What do you mean you're own time?" "Well you see I don't belong in this time. I come from the future." Yoshihiro looked at her like she was crazey. "I know it's hard to believe now but you'll see when we get to the well." "Are Kirara and I comeing with you?" She looked over shocked and a little worried that they would actualy follow after her into the well and be able to get through. "No you can't, that is you'd creat a spectical walking around. You see demon's don't exsist in the time I come from anymore." Yoshihior's face looked horrified. "You mean human's kill us all!" Marina looked over at him sadly, "No humans don't do it." "Then who does?" She paused for a long while not answereing him afraid to tell him. "Angels kill them all." Yoshihiro looked at her horrified. "You mean you're kind kill all of us in the future." "Well like you I'm only have half blood." "So you're half-angel blood half-human blood." "That's right." "I'm sorry if I've never heard of angels before today." "Can you tell me how it happened?" Marina looked ahead ignoring the young demon-half. "I'd rather not." Yoshihiro seemed upset by her words and deep down almost didn't want to be what he was any more, when he had secretly always been proud of his demon-fox heritage.

They flew for several hours saying little more than a few words when Yoshihiro's curiousity would become too much for him and he would blurt out a quesion, that she promptly answered and would go back to flying silently. Yoshihiro's fear began to subside and he sat up to look around at the beautiful land scape below. "Miss. Marina may I ask you something personal?" She kept her head strait ahead looking for the village that would direct her to the well. "Do you love Master Koyasha?" Her head jerked around shocked by Yoshihiro's question. "Well do you?" Marina's face turned several shades of red, "I ...I don't know?" Yoshihiro smiled and began laughing on the inside. ("She doesn't know, that means there is a good chance she does.") "But I don't know if I love Shippou either. I know I definately don't have feelings for that player Mushiro, he's a horrible person!" "Do you mean for kissing you?" Marina's face flushed dark red, "You saw that?" "Yes so did Master..." Yoshihiro's mouth let out something he hadn't intended to tell her and he gritted his teath hopeing she wouldn't freek out. "Koyasha saw!!" Her head wipped back around and wouldn't face the boy till they landed several hours later. ("Koyasha must not care about me if he just let another man kiss me. Especialy one he hates as much as his brother.") Her thought's became even more confussed with this new development.

They landed well after night fall a little outside the village. Marina looked over to Yoshihiro sadly, "I'm really going to miss this place, but I'll be back before you know it." Yoshihiro nodded. "But Miss Marina where should I go from here I don't know where Master Koyasha is." "Listen Kirara will lead you back to the village of the demon hunters." Yoshihiro turned chock white, "Demon hunters!" Marina started laughing. "Don't worry if they see you with Kirara they won't think anything about it, she'll protect you." Marina gave him a light kiss on the cheek, "You'll be fine" Yoshihiro looked at her and could swear their was a heavenly glow around her. "I've got to go for now so I'll see you later." Her wings dissapeard and she jumped into the well. Yoshihiro ran to the well and called after her but she was gone.

Marina looked up at the dark ceiling and 'sighed' "I'm back." She climbed out of the well useing a ladder that seemed to have been built just for that purpose. She stopped a moment then jumped back down passing back into the other time. Yoshihiro started to walk away and heard her voice yell out. "Are you still up there!" Yoshihiro ran to the edge of the well and looked down seeing her. "What are you doing back so soon?" "I forgot my kimono again" Yoshihiro laughed and untied the bundle and dropped it to her. She climbed up a few feet and jumped down again, sending her back to the other side.

She put the bundle in her mouth and climbed out of the well. A light clicked on over head and blinded her a moment. "So you've retrurned. Who are you?" She rubbed her eyes and a man came into view. His hair was lightly messed up and he was dressed in a business attire, Marina looked at him a moment then reolize he was the one Koyasha called unkle. "I'm sorry about messing up you're entrapment spells." Shyouta looked at her and it cliqued in his head. "You're the same one that freed Koyasha. What were you thinking!" Marina looked away from him not wanting to meet his gaze. Shyouta blinked a few times and gasped. "You're not even Japanese." "I'm very sorry but I've got to get back to my host family they must be worried sick." The door opened behind Shyouta and an old woman entered. She gasped, "That's the girle there looking for on the news. What's she doing here?" "Mother she's the one that freed Koyasha." "That can't be she's an American." The two stared at Marina makeing her feel very uncomfortable. "I really should get going." She tried to slip by Shyouta who slammed his arm down in front of her. "You're not going any where until you answere some of my questions. "I've got school in the moring and I'm sure I have a lot of make up work to do." "Tomarrow is Sunday." Marina sighed and backed off, there was no convinceing him to let her leave. "Now how did you free Koyasha only a preistes could have freed him." "You don't think you have to be Japanese to be a preistes do you?" Shyouta looked down at her surprised, "Well kind of." Marina rolled her eyes. "I promise I'll come back and tell you about everything but I've got to go now." He went to block her way again and a gust of wind hit him and threw him backwards out of the door way. "I'm very sorry sir but I 'promise' I'll come back tomarrow." Shyouta stared at her as she left, "How did she do that?"

Marina walked through the street exhausted and wishing she could use her wings and fly back to her host parents house. She found herself caughing frequently and haveing to stop and catch her breath. "I'd forgotten how poluted the air is here." She walked along and soon found herself hurring her pace as a group started following her. She rounded a corner almost at a dead run and tripped on a uneven peice of the side walk. Marina looked back feerfull and gasping for breath but the men were gone. "I thought for sure they were following me." She picked herself up and started walking again. It was midnight before she reached her host parents home. She knocked on the door and a few minutes later a light clicked on and her host father opened the door. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "Marina is that you?" Marina smiled and fell to her knees. He ran out and helped her inside. "What happened where have you been?" Marina paused a moment and thought up a plossible excuse. "I was kidnapped and I escaped from him, I was afraid I couldn't find my way home before he found me." "Come in quickly I'll call the police and make sure you have protection." Marina's host mother came in and couldnt' believe her eyes "Marina!" She ran over and locked her arms around Marina. "Oh God we thought you were dead!" Tears flowed from her eyes and she keps her arms around her. Marina couldn't help but cry herself she had made them worry so much. "Are you ok did anything happen to you?" Marina thought a moment about telling them about her stomach wound, then decided not to. Mrs. Yamaki backed up holding her hands on Marina's shoulders, "Don't worry we'll take you to the hospital and they can check you out I'm sure you're still too upset to tell anyone." An ambulance arrived a few minutes after Mr. Yamaki got off the phone and they loaded Marina up into it followed by Mrs. Yamaki who reffused to leave her side.

They arived at the hospital and they checked her out from head to toe takeing pictures of every cut and bruise she had on her body and they took several of the stitched up sword wound on he stomach. But Marina was skilled enough to hide her sword so they wouldn't take it to run balistics on. The doctor pulled the stitches out cleaning the wound well and then restitching it giveing her several shots to combat infections. She lay in the hospital watched over by police and her host parents. She couldn't sleep thinking about all the new friends she'd left back on the other side of the well. Riico's family watched the news as always in the morning and heard the report come in... "And in the lighter side of new the lost American exchange student was found late last night after escapeing her kidnapper. She is being held in the local hospital, athorities still don't know who he was but are investigating...." Riico spit out her tea all over the tv and ran to her phone. "Hello is..." "Yes Riico just a minute" "Hi Yuka call Hikari I'm going to the hospital now." "Why am I calling Hikari again?" "Didn't you watch the news this morning they found Marina!" "WHAT!?" "You two meet me at the hospital I've got to get down there and make sure she's ok." "K see you there." Riico threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt grabbing her flip flops as he ran out the door. Her parents still stood like satues watching her run around the house like a maniac. Riico jumped on her bicycial and rode off like a mad man for the city.

She diched her bicycle out side letting it fall to the ground with a crash. The police outside tried to catch her but she busted through the door wakeing Marina's host parents up in a panic. She ran to Marina's side followed by the police, who tried to grab her and make her leave. Marina shewed off the police and greeted Riico who was hysterical with tears. "Calme down Riico-chan I'm ok." Riico grabbed her shoulders and looked her dead in the face. "Calme down you've been gone for a week, God only knows where and you expect me to be Calme when you're found!" Marina broke out into gails of laughter holding her stomach. The Yamaki's winked to each other and left them to talk. "You know who took you don't even tell me you don't." "Keep it down, I couldn't let them know about what happened they'd never believe me. I'm sceptical whether you Yuka and Hikari will believe me." "I don't know after you freeing that century old demon I'm pretty open to anything right now." The door opened and an nurse led in Yuka and Hikari who ran to hug Marina and make sure she was real. "I can't believe they actualy found you!" Marina laughed sheepishly. "I think it's more like I found them." "You know the police must have come to my house twenty times this last week asking me and my family questions about your dissapearance." "I'm sorry about that Yuka." "Why should you be? I'm just glad you're back!" "Here I brought you something." Hikari handed her a large thin package with a little lump in the center. Marina opened it and started crying. it was a sketch pad with cute little hello kitty pencils and a sharpener. "Well open it up!" She opened it to the first page and pasted on the inside cover was a picture of all of them from there first trip to Tokyo Play Land together whearing their uniforms and cat ears on their heads. The four friends looked at the picture and bursto out into laughter remembering how scared they were when they whent on the big feris-wheel and got to the top. They gossibed for a few hours before the nurse came in and shood them all off for her to get some rest. They grummbled and waved good bye. "Hey Marina I'll come back later with you're back assignments I've been getting extras all week so you wouldn't get behind." "Thanks Hikari. See you three later!" "Bye!!" the chipperly replied.

Marina lifted the scetch book to place it to the side and a bunch of photos fell out in her lap. She set the the book down and picked up the photos and gasped. They were those that Hikari had taken the day she freed Koyasha from the tree. "She looked at the photos and began smileing as she shuffled through them even seeing just as Koyasha woke up and her tripping trying to get away, although that photo was taken poorly because Hikair was starting to run away herself to get away from the shrine. Marina pulled out a picture of his face when she lifted up his hair and the entrapment spell to show his face. She picked up the scetch book and began drawing him. The nurse came back in a moment. "You really should try and rest, what are you drawing?" She walked over and eyed the picture she was drawing and smiled. "Are you doing that out of you're head?" Marina hid the photo under the large sketch pad. "Yes do you like it mam?" The woman smiled "You're very talented, try and get some rest though." "I will thank you." After the nurse left she pulled out the picture and began drawing again. "That was a close one." She spent several hours on the picture before her host parents came back in carring her lunch. She put up the sketch pad and photos and took the food. She ate heartily which made the Yamaki's stare in dissbelief. She thanked them for the food finishing her tea. "Did you're captor starve you?" Marina looked at them surprised. "No of coarse not, what would make you think that?" They dissmissed it being thankfull she was eatin like a normal person for a change. She took the left over dumplings and asked if she could save them for later. Mrs. Yamaki nodded roboticaly still in shock that she may even eat more. "The doctors say you can come home in another day or two." "That means I'm going to miss school, are they sure I can't go home today." "No the doctor said specificaly that it wouldn't be today. I'm sorry." "Well I guess I can catch up on my work then while I'm here."

They heard a knock at the door and Hikari, Yuka, and Riico poked their heads in the door. "Come on in girls we were just leaving." Mr. Yamaki signald to his wife to get up and come with him. Marina suddenly rememberd something, "Has anyone called my father yet?" "We did it last night while you were sleeping, don't worry he was relieved..Oh, and you're brother Spen..Spencer says to ... 'keep you're promise' I'm not sure he said it in English." Marina's head lowered and she smiled as they left. Hikari came in carrying a stack of books and slammed them down on her small table. "Jeeze thanks for the help you two." "Hey I offered and you declined Hikari." "I was being sarcastic Yuka!" "Well maybe I'll help next time if you're not sarcastic." Riico stepped between them before it got ugly. "Anyway we're here to help you catch up on you're home work." Marina smiled and picked up one of the books knocking over her sketch book which conveniently fell open to her sketch of Koyasha. She reached down to try and get it before the others saw it but fell out of bed as Yuka snatched it up off the ground. "Looks like you've been busy drawing you're new boyfriend while we where gone." Marina shot up and snapped the sketch book closed. "He's not my boyfriend." "Sure that's why you weren't drawing a very detailed picture of his face in you're brand new sketch book." "That's not fair Yuka, you don't even know him." "Oh so you were with him!" Marina threw the book on the bed and clamped her hands on Hikari's mouth. "So why didn't you at least call us and let us know you where ok." Riico scolded grabbing the scetch book up opening to the drawing again. "Wow you even got that bit of moss that was on his cheek." "Give that back Hikari!" Hikari jumped up on Marina's hospital bed and held it up so she couldn't reach it. "Tell us about him or I'll throw it out the window." Yuka ran around and opened the window wide and Hikari tossed the book to her. Yuka held it out of Marina's reach out the window. "Tell us!" "Don't do it please I havn't even finished it yet!!" Riico ran over to the door an locked it hearing footseps outside. "Come on I'll pull it back in if you promise to tell us everything, no left out details!" "Yuka you can't please!" Yuka acted like she was about to drop it and someone snatched it from her hand. Yuka looked over at her hand startled and stepped back away from the window. "What's going on?" Marina ran over to the window and looked down and saw no sketch book falling. "Where did it go!?" "Are you kidding this looks nothing like me." She froze hearing that very familiar voice.

Koyasha jumped down though her window and stood looking at the picture turning it in weird directions to look at it. Riico let out a shriek but her mouth was quickly covered by Hikari's hand. Yuka pointed at him surprised, "You're that demon!" Marina snatched the sketch book from Koyasha' hands. "You've probably never drawn a thing in you're life Koyasha! And just what are you doing here?!" "What are you kidding I've been following you since you came through the well last night." Marina's friends mouth hung down in dissbelief."You don't think those men following you just suddenly decided you weren't worth it?" Hikari started laughing, "What's the matter couldn't have her out of you're sight for a moment?" Koyasha's eyes narrowed, "If these are you're friends their iratateding." Riico moved Yuka's hand from her mouth. "You don't even know us and just what were you thinking keeping her out of school!" Yuka moved in on him as well "Didn't you even think about how far she would get behind being gone a week!" Marina's three friends backed Koyasha into the corner with their advanceing and scolding. "And just what were you thinking hiding outside a girls room have you no shame!" Koyasha blinked a few times slightly intimadated by her three overpowering friends. "I told you Koyasha I'm staying here for a while and getting my head strait besides going to school and trying to keep from getting sent back to the states for not fulfuilling my obligation as an exchange student." Koyasha's eye's narrowed and he pushed passed her friends. "If you can't remember you promised to help me find the other half of the jewel." "And I told you I'd help you after I've got my head strait!!" Loud banging and yelling came from her door. Riico and Yuka ran to the door and pressed themselves agains it to keep them from openeing it despite the lock. "I'm not leaveing, so just get over it, woman." Hikari punched Koyasha in the face and actualy made him side step. "She has a name and you'll use it around here." His eyes narowed but Hikari didn't back off, "In case you've forgotten it's Marina!" Koyasha cracked his knuckles and pulled back his hand to strike. Marina jumped between them holding her arms strait down and scolded Koyasha with her eyes. "Touch her and I will break my promise Koyasha!" The door opened a few inches and pinched down on a police officers hand as Yuka and Riiko slammed it back shut. "We don't have much time here. If you could get the demon out of here we might have a better chance of explaining all the noise!" "Come on Hikari give us a hand!" Hikari looked back over at them "Why don't you just let them in so they can see first hand who the kidnapper is."

Marina shoved Koyasha out the window as the door burst open. Yuka and Riiko when running out of the way as several officers and orderlies came chargeing in. "What's going on in here!" Riico and Yuka looked at each other for a response but thier minds were blank. Hikari stepped forward, "I'm sorry we asked them to hold the door till we could finish this scene for our school play." "What was that man's voice I heard?" "Man's voice that was Marina, she's great isn't she?" Marina looked at her frightened "Hikaria began to laugh "I'm sure she'd do it for you but she's got terrible stage fright." Yuka jumped in. "That's why we're practiceing and couldn't have anyone come in and see her or she'd clam up for the rest of the day." Riico jumped in as well. "And now we can't practice anymore because you guys busted in here." Riico laughed nervously as one of the officers eyed her, "Warn us next time. That was very irresponsible of you four." "Yes sir never again!" The four sighed in reliefe after the mob left the room. "That was close." "Hey, a little help down here!" Koyasha hung from her window barely holding on. Marina ran over and grabbed around his rist while Hikari grabbed the other hand. the two girls heaved Koyasha in the window. "Geez thanks for the warning, wom..." Hikari pulled her fist back and threatened to hit him. "..Marina." "That's better." Koyasha rolled his eyes. "Koyasha would you just go back into the well and wait for me. I'll come back through in another week or so just as soon as I can get things calmed down here? I havn't even got a chance to try and explain where I've been." "I'm not leaveing without you, wether you like it or not." The door opened again and Marina shoved Koyasha back out the window. "Miss. you shouldn't be out of bed you're not better yet." The nurse walked over and looked at the window. "Why did you open the window isn't it comfortable in here?" "Oh I just like the after noon breeze." "Well as I understand it you have bad lungs and the city smog won't help that any." The nurse shut the window and they heard a light shreik. "What was that? Now you get back into bed I've got to go make sure all the patients are ok." She ran out shutting the door.

Marina ran over to the window and threw it open, "Are you ok Koyasha?" His nails where inbeded in the side of the building holding on for dear life. "Would you give me a hand already!" Marina reached down haveing to use Yuka as leverage to reach him and not fall out of the window. The girls struggled a moment the finally got him pulled back up inside. Koyasha and Marina still seemed at each others throughts over her going back with him. Riico stepped forward slightly hesitant in approaching him. "Why don't you just enrol in school then you could watch her and stop getting us in trouble?" Hikari smaked Riico accross the head, "Hello demon he can't exsactly hide his features!" Hikari yanked on Koyasha's ears. Yuka looked at him a moment eye balling him as she circled. "No actually if you did it just right you could hide them." Marina stared at them in shock. "You can't be seriously concidering this!" Koyasha listened with interest at their sceeming ideas. "If we could cover his head up with a hat it would be no problem. All the other stuff people would just think you were trying to intimadate the teachers, the guys would probably think you were cool because of it." Hikari started concidering the idea as well, "The question is how to get him enrolled and what kind of hat to wear?" Riico looked hard at Koyasha's face a moment. "If he had short hair I'd say possibly a baseball cap." "What are you talking about he'd look awful in a baseball cap!" "Well what do you suggest Hikari?" "Give me you're hair band Yuka." Yuka pulled out her hair tie and handed it Hikari. Hikari walked over and pulled Koyasha's hair back at his neck, "Now Riico tell me what he'd look good in." The three girls looked at each other and all got the same evil grin on their face. Marina just stood in absolute dissbelief of her friends. Koyasha looked at the three curiously. "You're names Koyasha right?" Koyasha looked at Hikari with a worried look in his eye. Riico pulled off her scarf and tied it around Koyasha's head pinning his ears down. "Well Koyasha lets go get you outfitted for school!" The three grabbed his arms and forced him out the door. "Bye Marina don't have too much fun doing your home work while we're gone!" "Hikari wait!!" The door shut and they were gone. Marina fell back on her bed mentaly exhausted, her head tipped to the side and she looked over at her school books grummbling slightly thinking about all the work she had to do.

Several hours later the three returned with grinns that would mak the cheshire cat wonder. Marina set down her book report finishing the last line and looked over at them. "So did you get it all finished?" "Yes, but what are you three up to?" Yuka looked around but saw no Koyasha she stommped her foot and opened the door dragging in Koyasha who didn't look like Koyasha. He wore a navey blue golf hat turned backwards with his hair still pulled back how Hikari had it, a blue undershirt with a white dress shirt fluffed half way buttoned up and out slightly over his belt tucked into sharp black slacks. His face showed that he was thouroughly uncomfortable. "I look like an idiot these clothes offer absolutely no protection."He went to strike his claws agains the shirt and Yuka grabbed his arm. "Oh no you don't you're not going to ruin this one like the last three!" Marina slightly blushed he looked almost normal for a change, although it was strange seeing him in modern clothes. "That's very nice but that's not our uniform." Hikari looked at him a moment and pointed at him. "Does he strike you as the kind that would follow the rules or dress code." Marina sighed, "No I suppose not. But they'll never accept him to our school." Riico pulled out some pappers smileing. "They already did all he has to do is bring them in on the first day." Marina fell back to a laying down position. "Please! Please tell me you're lieing!" "Oh get over it. It's done so just live with it." Yuka looked at his hair undecidedly. "I don't know I still think we should have braided it." Koyasha shot daggers at Yuka. "Ok! Ok I'll stop mentioning it. I just thought you're hair might look a bit neater that way." Koyasha walked over to the corner and leaned against the wall. Hikari seemed to remember something off hand, "Oh yeah we brought dinner and you're host parents said you might like this. She held out Marina's mini disk player. "Oh thank you." Riiko pinched Hikari, "And they said they had to work in the morning so not to worry." "Oh if figured they'd have left by now." "That's really negative, anyway I'm hungry so lets eat." Hikari heaved up several big bags of chinese take out. Koyasha's interest rose and he sat down to join in. "I couldn't remember what you liked so we just ordered one of everything." Marina smiled, "In that case hand me the beef and broccoli." The girls all broke out into laughter watching Koyasha inhail the sesami chicken.

Koyasha sat back utterly stuffed along with Marina and her friends. "You three are evil, you know I have a weakness for chinese." "I think that goes for all of us." Riico lifted up her arm weakly and looked at her watch. "It can't be that late!" She shot up and pulled Hikari and Yuka to their feet. "What wrong Riico, what time is it?" "I't a quarter after twelve." The other two shrieked and gathered up the empty containers throwing them back into the bags. "You three shouldn't go home alone the gangs are out." "Well what else can we do we've got to get through the city to get to the bus station." Marina looked over at Koyasha and smiled. Koyash's face lowered in dissgust. "Don't even think about it!" He turned around and faced the wall. "But you havn't gotten to beat anyone up all day Koyasha and if they get attacked you'll have plenty of guys to beat up." Koyasha turned his head and seemed interested by her offer. "Ok I'll go." The three girls jumped up and down and hugged Koyasha who's face turned even more dissgusted. Marina giggled lightly at Koyasha trying not to let her amusement show too badly, and make him want to change his mind. "Thank you Koya-kun." The three girls heads shot over to Marina in the blink of and eye. "-kun??" Marina's face turned beat red. Koyasha looked at them strangely not quite getting what the big joke was about. Yuka winked to Hikari and they left Marina to have a quiet hospital room again.

Marina sat a moment then looked over at her sketch book and picked it up agian. She opened to the inside cover and stared at the pickture of her and her friends smileing. "I don't think I could have asked for a better group of friends. Hikari always takeing charge when needs be, Yuka just along for the fun of it, and Riiko the passive one that keeps us grounded when we get to crazey." "I dont' think I could trade you three for anything." Koyasha returned a couple hours later irratated. "What's the matter Koyasha?" "Those twerps thought it was so fun rideing on my back while I was runnin them home they want me to do it again in the morning." "What did you tell them." Koyasha glared at her. "Don't tell me you agreed to it." Koyasha hunkered down in the corner and went to sleep. Marina lightly chuckeld to herself. ("Maybe Koyasha is changeing after all. I think he likes them and just doesn't want to admit it.") Marina rolled over and found sleep was ready for her, she closed her eyes and began to dream.

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Well that's it for this chapter I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll have the spell checked chapter up as soon as I can.

Anyway chapter 12 comming soon

"The new guy"